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Some fear contracting Covid-19 if they sit in a restaurant. Others fear having to quarantine them for a single afternoon coffee. The gastronomic and night life is no longer attractive in current conditions.
In addition to the concerns of getting infected, there is the hassle of handing over contact details and the new rule that drinks can only be consumed sitting down. Either way: Stringent new federal measures to contain the pandemic put an additional burden on the catering industry.
For the operators of the “Nordstern” of Basel it was already clear on Monday that operations could not be maintained. They decided to close the club until further notice. Now other clubs are considering closing as well.
The decision on “courtship” and “Das Viertel” is still pending
For Valentin Aschwanden, operator of the Das Viertel and Balz clubs, the confusion arose after the announcement of the new federal measures on Sunday. “We were not clear if we would have to adapt our operations to the requirements of the federal government or the cantons,” he says. “If we have to divide the clubs into countless sectors, it doesn’t make sense to keep holding events. But if the 300 rule still applies, we will try. “
After the Basel governing council meeting on Tuesday lunchtime, it became clear: as of now, more than 100 people can no longer celebrate in a sector. As of Tuesday’s editorial deadline, Aschwanden was unable to say whether this will definitely mean the closure of the two clubs; the decision will be made in the late afternoon or Wednesday morning, depending on the club operator.
Collection of contact details is the main problem
The Night Culture Working Group, which was launched in the summer, sees the financial situation of the Basel scene threatened: “We are fundamentally behind the measures taken by the federal government and the cantons, but such regulations cannot be passed without think about the industry and offer compensation, “says Jo Vergeat, member of the Night Culture Task Force and Counselor (Green Alliance). “If the federal government and the cantons decide nothing about it, we and other associations will have to increase the pressure.”
For cafe and bar operators, on the other hand, collecting contact details is the main issue, says Maurus Ebneter, president of Basler Wirteverband. “I’m afraid some people will weigh whether they want to risk being quarantined for an afternoon coffee or a beer at night, and then decide not to visit the restaurant.”
However, restaurateurs do not want the measures to be relaxed. Because that would also mean losses for them. Pierre Mendy, managing director of the Avant Gouz restaurant, reports that some reservations were canceled last weekend: “We felt very strongly that our guests were afraid of being infected in the restaurant due to the increasing number of cases.” Ebneter comments: “In this tension zone, restorers can only lose.”
